Fishing

Fishing Forecast

Mogollon Rim  |  White Mountains

Fishing Rating:   Hot  Good   Fair  Poor

Mogollon Rim

Bear Canyon Lake – Closed

During a normal winter, vehicle access to Bear Canyon Lake is impossible due to heavy snow and road closures. The US Forest Service normally closes the 300 Road/Rim Road after the first significant snowfall, which occurred in December this year. If access to Bear Canyon Lake is possible, trout fishing should be fair. Trout were last stocked in September and some may persist into winter. Cool water temperatures may decrease trout activity, so fish during the warmest parts of the day. Try nymphs under an indicator, small gold lures, or PowerBait to attract hungry trout. Green Sunfish were illegally introduced to this lake. Anglers are encouraged to remove any sunfish caught. Bear Canyon Lake may partially or completely ice over throughout the winter; anglers should use caution and check recent weather reports when ice fishing.

Black Canyon Lake – Closed

During a normal winter, vehicle access to Black Canyon Lake is impossible due to heavy snow and road closures. The US Forest Service normally closes the 300 Road/Rim Road and/or Forest Road 86/86B after the first significant snowfall, which occurred in December this year. Should access to Black Canyon Lake be possible, fishing will likely be poor. Catchable-sized Rainbow Trout were stocked during the spring and early summer. Trout fishing may be difficult throughout the winter. The lake also currently contains illegally introduced Green Sunfish and Largemouth Bass; anglers are encouraged to catch and remove these species to help control their populations. There is no limit for bass and sunfish here. Black Canyon Lake may partially or completely ice over throughout the winter, but ice conditions are generally unsafe for ice fishing.

Chevelon Canyon – Closed

During a normal winter, vehicle access to Chevelon Canyon Lake trailhead is impossible due to heavy snow and road closures. The US Forest Service normally closes the 300 Road/Rim Road and Forest Road 169 after the first significant snowfall, which this year happened in December. Should access to Chevelon Canyon Lake be possible, fishing will likely be poor. Trout will be less active during the winter, however Rainbow Trout and wild Brown Trout may be hungry during the warmest parts of the day.  Try small gold Kastmasters, Panther Martin spinners and Rapalas. Fly-fishermen should try small crayfish-colored patterns, black or brown Wooly Buggers or Simi Seal Leeches, or small nymphs under an indicator. Chevelon Canyon Lake is a hike-in or ATV accessible lake only, with a two trout limit and artificial fly/lure only regulations. Chevelon Canyon Lake may partially or completely ice over throughout the winter, but ice conditions are generally unsafe for ice fishing.

Willow Springs Lake – Closed

During a normal winter, vehicle access to Willow Springs Lake is impossible due to heavy snow and road closures. The US Forest Service normally closes Forest Road 149 after the first significant snowfall, which this year happened in December. Should access to Willows Springs Lake be possible, fishing should only be fair. Willow Springs is stocked with catchable Rainbow Trout weekly until the end of September and Tiger Trout were stocked in September. Large numbers of trout remain uncaught into the winter and continue to provide good opportunity for anglers as long as weather allows. Try Kastmasters, small Rapalas or Panther Martins for either species during the warmest parts of the day when trout will be most active. Shore anglers fishing for trout can try nightcrawlers or PowerBait. Green Sunfish and Smallmouth Bass were illegally introduced to this lake. Try a small hook with a worm under a bobber, especially during the warmer parts of the day. Willow Springs Lake may partially or completely ice over throughout the winter; anglers should use caution and check recent weather reports when ice fishing.

Woods Canyon Lake – Closed

During a normal winter, vehicle access to Woods Canyon Lake is impossible due to heavy snow and road closures. The US Forest Service normally closes 300 Road/Rim Road and Forest Road 105 after the first significant snowfall, which this year occurred in December. Should access to Woods Canyon Lake be possible, fishing should only be fair. Large numbers of stocked Rainbow Trout and Tiger Trout remain uncaught into the fall and continue to provide good opportunity for anglers.  If fishing for trout from shore, try PowerBait or worms. Fly anglers may have luck if open water remains using small nymphs under an indicator. Fish for illegally stocked Green Sunfish along the rocky shore with nightcrawlers. The store and boat rentals have closed for the season. Woods Canyon Lake may partially or completely ice over throughout the winter; anglers should use caution and check recent weather reports when ice fishing.

White Mountains

Becker Lake – Rating: 

Becker Lake can only be fished with artificial flies and lures with a single point barbless hook, catch-and-release for trout only. Becker is filling for the winter thanks to a newly-piped ditch, so expect lake levels to rise. Try fishing crayfish patterns or nymphs under an indicator near the inlet pipe to mimic small prey getting flushed into the lake. Try Wooly Buggers, Simi Seal Leeches, Prince Nymphs or Hare’s Ear. There is limited opportunity for shore fishing and wading especially due to low water. Spin fishermen can try Z-rays, small Kastmasters or Panther Martins with the treble replaced with a single point barbless hook. Illegally introduced Largemouth Bass can also be found in this lake and anglers are encouraged to harvest bass to help the trout populations. Becker Lake may partially or completely ice over throughout the winter; anglers should use caution and check recent weather reports when ice fishing.

*Note: Anglers who plan to fish Becker Lake should be aware that the fishing pier is currently unusable due to damage sustained during monsoon storms in summer 2021. The Department is currently working on a solution, but shore anglers should plan to seek other options for the foreseeable future.

Big Lake – Closed

During a normal winter, vehicle access to Big Lake is more difficult due to heavy snow and road closures. The US Forest Service normally closes State Route 273 and State Route 261 after the first significant snowfall. Big Lake may partially or completely iced over throughout the winter; anglers should use caution and check recent weather reports when ice fishing.

Greer Lakes (Bunch, Tunnel, River) – Rating: 

As winter weather comes to the White Mountains, the Greer Lakes are filling again; expect lake levels to rise throughout the winter. When the lakes begin filling, fish near the inflows where the water is freshest. Try insect and crayfish mimic flies and lures and drift them through the flowing fresh water. Rainbow Trout were last stocked in July at Bunch, Tunnel, and River.  Trout will persist throughout the winter to be caught. Wild Brown Trout may be found in any of the lakes. Try using streamers like Wooly Buggers, or nymphs under an indicator. Spin fisherman will do well with Powerbait or small gold lures. Illegally introduced Yellow Perch can be found in River Reservoir; anglers are encouraged to remove any caught to improve trout fishing. The Greer Lakes may partially or completely ice over throughout the winter; anglers should use caution and check recent weather reports when ice fishing.

Remember that River Reservoir has new regulations to protect the Blue Ribbon Brown Trout population that exists in the lake. New Regulations are as follows: catch-and-release only for trout; trout must be immediately released unharmed; no trout may be kept; artificial fly and lure only from October 1 through April 30. General statewide regulations apply from May 1 to September 30.

Carnero Lake – Closed

Carnero Lake is extremely low this year due to lack of winter and spring snowfall in 2021. Due to low water levels, Carnero Lake was not stocked in spring 2021. Poor water quality caused a complete fish kill during the summer. Avoid Carnero Lake until the lake refills and the Department restocks, which will hopefully occur in spring 2022.

See the pdf file for the remainder of the lakes in the White Mountains region:

Black River – East fork
Black River – West fork
Carnero
Concho
Crescent
Fool Hollow
Greer lakes
Lee Valley
Little Colorado
Little Colorado River
Luna Lake
Lyman
Nelson
Patterson
Rainbow Lake
Scott
Scott Reservoir
Show Low Creek
Show Low Creek meadows
Show Low Lake
Silver Creek
Woodland Lake

*Community fishing lakes